Ejiofor harps on unity as Ubulu-Uku holds Iwu festival ~ Truth Reporters

 

By Andy Emephia

As Ubulu Uku kingdom in Aniocha South local government area, marks  her lwu festival as part of the new yam ( lne) festivities, the Onishe and Traditional Prime Minister , Chief Emma Ejiofor , PhD, has tasked  his kith and kin at home and the diaspora, to as a matter of urgency, return to the age long values of unity that define Ubulu as a people driven by deep cultural and communal ties.

He also advised the people to embrace peace and justice , for that is the Hallmark of their Christendom , traditional law, and "everything that is created to guide and guard , our conscience.

Describing the lgba lwu as preparatory to the final cleansing of the land, Chief Ejiofor told Journalists , that the festival has cultural and spiritual significance to the people.

Said the Onishe of Ubulu Uku:" This lgba lwu festival was on before my forebears came into existence in this community , where a bond was reached that l be the Onishe. Onishe means someone who has the authority over the land. He has the authority, and the king has the power. The Onishe is the authority . He is the administrator of the land.

According to the Onishe of Ubulu Uku, the Igba lwu , is a time honoured tradition, practiced in preparation to the final Iwu festival, which is conducted at the community,s sacred stream.

Ejiofor emphasized that this practice is deeply rooted in the community,s spiritual heritage, and reflects a long standing bond with the land and the divine.

Touching on the significance of the Umualu, the group responsible for traditional kingmaker , the Ubulu Uku Onishe and Prime Minister, said the Umualu is where Ilo, their forebear , hails from.

According to Ejiofor, "Ilo is our forebear, and he was given the traditional role of king maker. He crowns the king, and dethrones the king, if need be. This is a generational arrangement , which ensured the spiritual continuity of Ubulu Uku".

On the social media space awash with a "Onishe Ezemu" title purportedly clashing with his Onishe Ubulu title, Chief Ejiofor dismissed such claims, as according to him, "that title ( Onishe Ezemu), is illegal and self proclaimed.Onishe Ezemu was never a Chief. He was the Chief priest of the Onishe. He looks after the Ezemu shrine, but this Onishe Ubulu looks after every deity and every administration in the community and the local palace. This Ezemu title was banished over 500 years ago so this is an exercise in futility".

Others who spoke, Pa Gabriel Awulu, the leader of the Umualu in lshio quarters of Ubulu Uku and Ogbegoye community, as well as Engr Lawrence Ejiofor , a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the State, confirmed that the lwu festival is deeply rooted in the lshio quarters , which celebrates its own yam festival first , before the entire Ubulu Uku community celebrates theirs..

The lwu festival which was well attended at lshio quarters , featured traditional wrestling and general dancing by the excited community youths, adults , women and children in their hundreds.